A probe has found ‘serious failings’ at Surrey Police led to a mother being stabbed to death by her ex-husband as she got off the bus with her young daughter.
Aliny Godinho, 39, was stepping off a bus to collect her children from school in Epsom, Surrey, when she was confronted and fatally stabbed by Ricardo Godinho in February 2019.
He inflicted multiple stab wounds in front of horrified witnesses before fleeing the area in his pickup truck.
Mr Godinho was convicted of Aliny’s murder in July 2019 and jailed for life with a minimum term of 27 years.
An inquest into her death at Woking Coroner’s Court concluded that Surrey Police had ‘probably more than minimally contributed to her death’ on Friday.
A coroner also ruled that ‘more could and should have been done to manage and reduce the risk posed to Aliny by her husband’.
Now an Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation into how the force handled her murder has identified failings to protect Aliny after ‘confusion over responsibilities and procedure’.
The pair were married, but had separated in late December 2018 as Mr Godinho’s behaviour became increasingly intimidating and, at the time of the murder, he was being probed for threatening his ex-wife.
Mother-of-four Aliny Godinho was stabbed to death by her ex-husband. Today the police watchdog identified multiple failures of Surrey Police to protect her before the horrific daylight attack
Mr Godinho was convicted of Aliny’s murder in July 2019 and jailed for life with a minimum term of 27 years
An IOPC report found Aliny and her four children were subsequently moved into emergency accommodation in the Metropolitan Police area, but further confusion over procedure arose after it emerged Mr Godinho had discovered her new ‘secret’ address.
Two officers received written warnings for failures to investigate alleged breaches of bail conditions, failure to assess Aliny’s risk of harm and failure to ensure policies over the handling of domestic abuse allegations were followed.
The IOPC said today it launched an investigation following a mandatory referral from Surrey Police in February 2019.
The investigation examined ‘the actions decisions and risk assessments undertaken by officers who investigated Mrs Godinho’s allegations about her husband’s abusive behaviour’.
Actions and decisions of officers and staff regarding his arrest, subsequent release with bail conditions and his later release under investigation on January 16 were also probed.
In November 2019, the IOPC found that two police officers had a case to answer for regarding misconduct for breaching the standards of professional behaviour in respect of duties and responsibilities.
A temporary detective sergeant received a written warning for failing to ensure Surrey Police’s policies regarding handling of domestic abuse allegations were followed.
A police constable also received a written warning and was required to attend refresher training for failing to proactively investigate alleged breaches of bail by Mr Godinho and failing to assess the risk to Aliny following those breaches.
CCTV showed Aliny’s final moments boarding a bus with her three-year-old daughter to pick up her three other children from school before being confronted and stabbed by Mr Godinho
CCTV showing Aliny boarding the bus in Epsom, Surrey, shortly before she became the victim of a horrific daylight stabbing
Godinho pays for petrol before getting into a pick-up truck and driving to attack his estranged wife
Following the investigation, nationwide changes to policing are being introduce, the report said.
A learning recommendation to the College of Policing has led to a redraft of its Authorised Professional Practice for domestic abuse investigations.
The new guidelines will now include specific guidance on jurisdiction and cross-border issues, which will apply to police forces nationwide.
Graham Beesley, IOPC regional director, said: ‘The investigation we carried out into the circumstances around Aliny’s death identified shortcomings in terms of Surrey Police’s safeguarding, risk assessments and investigation in accordance with their domestic abuse policy, all of which was highlighted in the coroner’s findings.
‘While individuals have been held accountable for their actions, another important element of our work is to identify learning in order to improve policing.
‘The recommendations we have made from this case to strengthen the handling of domestic abuse investigations have been accepted both nationally and locally by Surrey Police and will hopefully contribute to reducing the risk of similar tragedies in the future.’
Detective Superintendent Juliet Parker, of Surrey Police, admitted that the force had failed and said it was ‘truly sorry’ and ‘deeply regretful’.
She said: ‘Our thoughts have been with the family and friends of Aliny since her tragic death and we recognise the profound impact her death has had on all those who knew her.
Police tape at the scene of the daylight stabbing in Stoneleigh an affluent area near Epsom in Surrey
‘We agree there were failings on the part of Surrey Police in how her case was handled. Opportunities to safeguard Aliny were missed and for that we are deeply regretful.
‘We welcome today’s conclusion and accept the findings that there are areas of improvement for us as an organisation. We remain committed to tackling the issue of domestic abuse and measures have already been put in place as a result of the important learning which has come out of this case.
‘Our officers are at the heart of the service we deliver to the public and all of those involved have been significantly affected by this tragedy. We come to work every day with the aim of keeping people safe.
‘On this occasion we failed and we are truly sorry.’
